Apple is reportedly reworking the iPhone Air line at the same time it’s planning to widen its iPhone range. In a new roadmap report, The Information says Apple abruptly canceled trial production for the second-generation iPhone Air last month and is now pursuing an iPhone Air 2 redesign after the first model’s weak sales.
For buyers, the subtext is that the middle option has to be easier to justify. The report says Apple is considering adding a second rear camera and cutting the retail price to make the next Air more attractive, although it doesn’t provide a target price, and “iPhone Air 2” is described as a tentative name. An Apple spokesperson declined to comment, according to the report.
A late pivot, midstream
Canceling trial production is not a small change. This is the stage where parts, assembly flow, and early manufacturing yields get validated before a broader ramp, so a sudden stop suggests Apple was not satisfied with the plan it had been building toward, whether on cost, demand expectations, or how the device fit into the rest of the lineup.
The report adds that manufacturer Luxshare is leading the next round of manufacturing trials, which could restart as early as March at its factory in Kunshan, China. We don’t have the exact date, so the exact timing remains unclear.
Why the Air has to earn it
The roadmap also points to a 20th-anniversary iPhone in fall 2027 with curved glass on the front and back wrapping all four edges, which would remove the black frame around the display. The report says it is unclear if the screen itself curves, and describes a narrow midframe metal band where the buttons sit, plus a selfie camera moved under the display for a full edge-to-edge look.
In that context, the Air still needs a simple pitch, likely a second camera and a lower price, as Apple adds more models soon.
What to watch next
If the Air redesign is meant to fix demand, the two tells should be straightforward: whether Apple actually commits to the rumored second camera, and whether any price move is meaningful enough to change comparisons inside the lineup. If you are shopping soon, wait for the specifics and lean on the best of the current models until Apple’s plan firms up.
